Fastening device



1945- J. T. GLEKLE R f 2,381,047

I FASTENING DEVICE Filed Nov. 18, 1945 I N VEN TOR.

ATTORNEYS altitudes.

and.

. fastening device. y 'Referring to the drawing indicates a helmet.

Patented Aug. 7, 1945 John T. Glekler, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to Air Incorporated, a corpora-' Reduction Company,

tion of New Yo k Application November 18, 1943, Serial, No. 510,757 7 Claims. (01. 24-47) This inventionrelates to fastening devices and particularly to adevice employed in connection with the helmet and oxygen mask of an aviator to facilitate the rapid manipulation of the connection whereby the mask is heldin operative position in relation to the face of the wearer. While primarily intended for the particular purpose indicated the fastening device may be used in other assemblies.

In modern highf altitude avi tion it is necessary for the aviator to wear a helmet and mask, the latter being connected to a source of oxygen which is supplied as required to make up the deficiency in that element which is met-at higher The mask is normally connected by previously indicated the mask is secured to the.

helmet on theleft hand side by a strap (not shown) inthe ordinary mannen' hand side of the helmet a hook At the right 8 is secured thereto. The hook may be of any suitable material, preferably of metal. It is of sturdy construction and relatively wide.

- To cooperate with the hook I provide a fasa suitable strap'usually of webbing to the'left hand side of the helmet and a connection is provided byv another strap to permit attachment to or release from the opposite side of the helmet; Thus the aviator may adjust the mask'or disconnect it as may be required by the exigencies of the situation. The aviator normally will be wearing heavy gloves or mittens and his attention may be fixed uponimportant elements of operation of the plane or its equipment. It is, of

course, imperative under such conditions that manipulation of the connection be easy, rapid and certain with a minimum of effort and attention. Connections her tofore available have not been satisfactory in t eserespects.

It is the object of the p vide a simple and effective connecting means affording the utmost facility in manipulation so I that the aviator may withoutclose attention and almost instantaneously adjust and 'fasten his mask in position with assurance that it will be held securely in proper position.

Other objects and advantages'of theinvention will be apparent as it is better understood by reierence to the following specification and the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 isa'vie'w inperspective illustrating the aviators helmet and mask and the novel connecting means; v

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view. of a portion of the helmet and mask and the fastening device a part thereof viewed in section as along line 2-2 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the fastening device;

Fig. 4 is a view in perspective'of the improved worn by an aviator and 6 the oxygen mask which is supplied with oxygen through a tube 1. As

tener consisting of. a rectangular frame having, side bars 9 and I0, end bars II and I2 and trans-- verse bars l3 and I4. The frame is bent at an acute angle at the bar l3. Each of the side bars 9, I0 is thus bent to'haveapex portions.

A strap l5 preferably of webbing is looped about the bar H as indicated at H5 at one end and thus secured thereto by stitching l8. The

strap is doubled and extends between the bars.

l2 and i4 and to a point some distance beyond the same thereby forming a stiffened tab H which may be stitched as indicated at l8 or otherwise treated to prevent separation of the folds. The frame as thus supported on the strap holds the bar 13 in spaced relation thereto so that it may engage the hook 8'on the helmet, the bar' i3 connecting with theside bars 9, H] at the apex portions. The bar I4 serves as means for retaining thedoubled strap against the end bar l2.

sent invention to pro- The free end of the strap is looped through an adiu'sting'buckle consisting of a frame 5 9 having a transverse bar 20 and a serrated end bar 2|. A loop 22 is provided for connection with a strap 23 which is usually of rubber to afford resiliency and which is connected to the mask 6. The adjusting buckle permits the ready adjustment of the length'of the strap a I 5 by the aviator ,to insure close fit of the mask'upon his face. g y v 1 When the mask is not in use'it normally hangs by the strap at the left hand side of the helmet. When the aviator desires to adjust the mask in place hewill grasp the tab 11 and vtensionirig the strap 23 will engage the'bar l3 with the hook 8. This can be accomplished readily without careful attention of the elements and the aviator having a secure hold on the tab 'H can quickly move the fastener toengagingposition with the. book; The mask can be disengagedas readily by. simply grasping the tab l1 and'with a slight pull to overcome .the tension slip the bar l3 from the hook. V

Various changes may be'made in the detail of the construction of the device without departing from the invention or forfeiting the advantages thereof.

ing element, and a strap secured to the end bar adjacent the one last-mentioned transverse bar I and projecting between the other end bar and the 1 transverse bar adjacent thereto to a point some distance beyond the other end bar thereby to form a tab which may be easily grasped to effect the release of the fastening element fromthe. hook.

2. In a quick release fastening device, a hook, a fastener having end and side bars, a transverse bar extending between the side bars and intermediate of the end bars, a folded strap secured to one of the end bars and extending in double connecting transverse bars, one of the transverse bars being connected to. the respective side bars adjacent the portions thereof connecting said angularly-disposed portions, said transverse bar forming a hook-engaging element, a pair of said transverse bars connecting the angularly-disposed portions of the respective side bars at one side of said hook-engaging element, at least one other of the transverse bars connecting the angularly-disposed portions of the respective side bars at the other side of said hookengaging element, a'strap connected to one of thickness to a point some distance beyond the other end bar so as to provide a tab which may be easily grasped to release the fastener from the hook, stitches extending through the double thickness of the strap to stiffen thefsame, means on the fastener for retaining the strap in position'against the other end bar, and said transverse bar being spaced from the strap and forming a hook-engaging portion.

3. A quick-release fasteningdevice comprising a frame member including side bars having angularly-disposed portions and a'plurality of conne'cting transverse bars, one of the transverse bars being connected to the respective side bars adjacent the portions thereof connecting said angularly-disposed positions, said transverse bar forming a hook-engaging element, other transverse bars connecting the respective angularlydisposed portions of the sidebars at opposite,

sides of said hook-engaging element. a strap connected to one of said other transverse bars, and

said last-mentioned transverse bars, and a tab connected to one of said last-mentioned transverse bars and extending through said pair of transverse bars and beyond the frame a distance sufficient to enable it readily to-be grasped.

6. A quick-release fastening device comprising a frame member including side members and a plurality of'connecting transverse bars, a strap connected to one of said transverse bars, another ofsaid transverse bars being located to one side of a planepassing through the transverse bar to which the strap is attached and a third transverse bar, said other transverse bar forming a hook-engaging element, and a tab connected to one of the transverse bars other than the one which forms the hook-engaging element and extending from the frame a distance sufficient to enable it readily to be grasped.

" a plurality of connecting transverse bars, a strap a tab connected to one ofother said transverse] bars'and extending from the frame member to a position where it readily maybe grasped. 4. A quick-release fastening device comprising having angularly-disposed portions connected directly to one another, and a plurality of'connect-- ing transverse bars, one of the transverse bars 'a plate-likeframe member including side bars connected to one of-said transverse bars, another of said transverse bars being located to one side of a plane passing through the transversebar to which the strap is attached and a third transverse bar, said other transverse bar .forming a'.hook-engaging element, and a relatively stiff tab connected to oneof the transhook-engaging element, other transverse bars connecting the respective angularly-disposed verse bars other than the one which'forms the hook-engaging element, said tab being of such size and extending from the frame in a direction which enables, it readily to be grasped.

. JOHN T. GLEKLER. 

